U.S. Judge Says ‘Dreamers’ Can Keep Driver’s Licenses

PHOENIX — A federal judge has decided to make permanent an injunction overturning Arizona’s ban on issuing driver’s licenses to young immigrants who were brought to the United States illegally as children and spared from deportation by President Obama in 2012.

Judge David G. Campbell of Federal District Court issued the permanent injunction on Thursday, citing the “irreparable harm” caused to the young immigrants by not being able to have a license under an executive order issued by former Gov. Jan Brewer. Ms. Brewer, a Republican who left office this month, argued that President Obama did not have the authority to act unilaterally in deferring deportations.

In the ruling, Judge Campbell cited examples of penalized immigrants, including one man unable to pursue a career as a firefighter because the local department required a license, and a graphic designer whose days were consumed by commuting by public transportation to meet clients.

These immigrants, known as Dreamers, were able to get driver’s licenses for the first time last month, after the United States Supreme Court let stand a decision by the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit to stay the ban.

Dan Pochoda, senior counsel at the American Civil Liberties Union of Arizona, which represented the immigrants, said that options for appealing the decision were limited and that he hoped the case had been resolved. “I think it’s effectively the end,” he said.

Other supporters said the decision would mean access to employment and education for immigrants.

A spokesman for Gov. Doug Ducey, a Republican, said the governor was reviewing the ruling.

Some state officials expressed concern that issuing licenses could create liability problems for the state’s Department of Transportation and might allow immigrants to gain access to government benefits to which they are not entitled.

A version of this article appears in print on , on Page A18 of the New York edition with the headline: U.S. Judge Says ‘Dreamers’ Can Keep Driver’s Licenses. Order Reprints | Today’s Paper | Subscribe